When is induced baby most likely to arrive?

[pebble5552]

I’m going into hospital on Friday evening to be induced at 38 weeks. I’m nervous but also very excited to meet our firstborn! I’ll be starting off with a pessary and then another one if that doesn’t work, followed by gel. The doctor has told me he expects DS to arrive any time between 48 and 72 hrs, so I should of given birth by Monday night or the early hrs of Tuesday at the latest.

Does that sound right to you? I’m really hoping for Tuesday because the 28th is an important anniversary for me, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to hold on that long! What do you think?

I went in on a Saturday morning both times and both times they came Monday morning. 2 am and 8am. Be prepared for a long emotional wait.

They like to check babies heart rate once the pessary it inserted but then you are left to your own devices. I personally couldn't sleep as the ward was quite noisy.

Don't be expecting a quiet nights sleep, wards are not quiet places. Even if they don't check you people will be in and out all night. There will be other ladies in at different points of induction/early labour.
Also worth considering now before you are exhausted that if baby doesn't drop enough they may consider assisted delivery or c-section - think about what you are happy with and don't feel like you can't say no.
I had 2 Male doctors try to pull my daughter in to position so they could use forceps (not at the same time!) ended up with an emergency section coz she wouldn't budge.
I didn't realise I could say no to these things and very much wish I had at the time.
I was in from Thursday night before she was eventually evicted early hours of Tuesday morning and I barely slept a wink.
They won't let you have an epidural too early but if they put you on the drip have the epidural first as that thing is insane how quick it ramps up.
Good luck OP X

I was induced with my first at 38 weeks and from the pessary being inserted to the delivery it was 19 hours. But I was (unknowingly) already 1cm dilated and my cervix was soft. I think it really varies but 72 hours is the worst case scenario.

@strawberry2017 can I say no to forceps and move straight onto emergency c section instead then? Good to know that’s an option if it comes down to it!

Maybe I need to stop being so fixated on my ideal date and go with the flow!

I think it really varies but 72 hours is the worst case scenario.

I must be the only person going into an induction and hoping it will take a long time

I had a pessary inserted at 9am, my labour progressed but very slowly, my midwife went home at 11pm as she said he wasn't likely to be born till the following evening. From there things progressed very quickly & he was delivered at 2am, without any further assistance.

I dont want to scare you, but mine took six days! Followed by emergency c section. He was my first and induced early due to reduced movements, my body just wasn't ready and didn't respond to pessary or gel. After six days I was moved to hormone drip, as I had been contracting on and off for six days and on a very loud and busy ward I was thankful that things were being stepped up a gear.

Out of everyone I know, no one in our NCT group had a birth like mine and most were induced and had babies within 72 hours! Good luck!

The way my midwife for this pregnancy explained it to me I can say no to anything I'm not happy to do.
So maybe best when you go in to make your wants clear. Make your birthing partner clear on what you want and don't want.
Definitely go with the flow!
Tell any new staff that come on shift what you want and don't want.
And don't forget if you have a section you can have skin to skin in theatre whilst they are stitching you up. Again something I learnt too late to do! X

I was 1cm dilated already when I was induced with the pessary. Contractions started immediately and had my baby within four hours. Everyone is different . Good luck!

Pessary 1pm Thursday, contractions started that evening, had a section three days later because I was still only 1cm and had pre eclampsia. I was 42 weeks. I'm convinced she would still be in there if it had been left up to her.

It all depends. My 3rd came naturally while I was waiting to be induced. My 5th took nearly 5 hours although he was born by emcs in the end. If the labour ward is busy it will take longer and if you are about to go into labour anyway it will be quicker. It depends on why you are being induced as well.

I am getting induced this Friday, too! It's baby no.2 this time and I think it will go really fast.
My first baby arrived within 12 hours after the pessary.

My waters went at 2am on the Friday, contractions started at 4.20am, went into the unit for assessment at 8:30am, let me home that night but back in for the pessary the next day about 11am. I only had one pessary as my waters went on their own, and 24 hour later they took me to the delivery suite and started the drip about noon on the Sunday. Daughter finally arrived at 4:20am on the Monday, which was my birthday! I didn't have an epidural so can't comment on that, and my labour was spontaneous, just needed the induction meds to move things along.

Waters broke on Sunday night. No contractions.
Induced Monday afternoon with pessary.
Baby born early Tuesday morning. Around 12 hours from pessary to birth.

Pessary around 8pm on Wednesday following by emergency section at 3.30am on Friday

2 loooooong days

I was induced at 6pm ish, waters broken at 11:30pm baby born at 2:30 am. Fourth baby. First, induced at midnight, waters broken 9am ish baby about 10:30am. Don't think there's any normal

My SIL had two induced births, 1st was born in a day or so and 2nd was the very same day!

My first wasnt induced but i was put on hormone to speed up my contractions and took 30hours.

Its impossible to predict OP😊 good luck x

I have taken nearly a week to be induced and I have been induced different ways. Balloon was quickest but still about 72 hours and had to have my waters broken

I don't think that's common though, I saw a lot of people come in and leave with their babies while I bounced miserably on a Pilates ball and sent another round of "not here yet!" Texts

I don't think that's common though

Sounds unlikely that I’ll hang on until the 28th then... but you never know!

OP you really don't want to go 72 hours. No food (you won't want it but still), no sleep (you'll be in labour you won't be able to sleep, Labour is ramped up with induction).

Depending how labour went or how well feeding is established they can keep you in 1-3 days postnatally and sometimes inductions are delayed, so I would think it would be anywhere from 3-7 days so the 28th wouldn't be that unlikely

Went in at 9am on a Thursday morning, had DS just before midnight on the Saturday night.

No food (you won't want it but still), no sleep (you'll be in labour you won't be able to sleep, Labour is ramped up with induction).

When’s the last point I can eat? Just before the drip? I better make sure I fuel up beforehand!

so the 28th wouldn't be that unlikely

Lets hope so!